Diversity at the University of Bonn
The University of Bonn owes its excellence to its members: its students, researchers, teachers and all its administrative and technical staff. It is their diversity—reflected in a broad spectrum of potential, experiences and lifestyles—that both enriches and challenges the University as a teaching and learning organization. The University of Bonn understands the implementation, promotion and support of equal opportunity and diversity as fundamental to a university culture built on appreciation and thus as a management and cross-sectional duty. 2020 saw the establishment of the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit, with the higher-level Vice Rectorate set up in the following year, focusing its work exclusively on these two areas.
Our mission
The Vice Rectorate and the Unit are tasked to develop strategic ideas for further strengthening excellence through diversity and inclusion at the University of Bonn and for ensuring equal opportunity to the highest possible degree. Moreover, the Vice Rectorate and the Unit implement measures to promote equal opportunity and diversity. They support and connect organizational units and members of the University of Bonn that share the same aims, e.g. within the Diversity Network. These efforts are guided by the BRIDGES principle, which stands for “building networks for participation, individual diversity, recognition and appreciation.”
Our Vision—an inclusive and cosmopolitan University
The University of Bonn strives to guarantee and further develop the best possible study, research, teaching and working conditions. It ensures that its members can participate in the University community regardless of their age, gender, sexual identity or orientation, ethnic or social background, religion or beliefs and whether or not they have a disability or chronic condition. Discrimination is not tolerated and will be sanctioned. The University of Bonn is making a sustained effort to promote and improve equal opportunity and diversity over the long term. To this end, University management is committed to embedding an inclusive organizational culture that systematically uncovers and eliminates (structural) inequality and exclusion mechanisms. This requires a culture that embraces free and critical academic debate. The aim is the (further) development of questions, projects and holistic approaches that may have the potential to change structural conditions in research and administration.
The Vice Rectorate and Diversity Unit
Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit
The Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit supports and advises the Rectorate in the (further) development of concepts and strategies to promote equal opportunities and diversity, supports and networks organizational units, academics and staff of the University of Bonn in the planning and implementation of activities in the field of equal opportunities, identifies good practice measures, ensures their transfer and contributes to the establishment of an organizational culture characterized by mutual appreciation and recognition.
Vice Rectorate for Equal Opportunity and Diversity
Ensuring equal opportunity for the challenges of gender equality and diversity is a university-wide strategic management objective of the University of Bonn. Professor Dr. Irmgard Förster has been the Vice Rector for Equal Opportunity and Diversity since 2021.
What we are working on
Diversity Strategy
The University of Bonn is committed to actively working towards becoming a more diverse institution. On this page, we outline what we have achieved so far.
Milestones
The University of Bonn has committed itself to actively working towards a more diverse university. On this page we present what we have achieved so far.
The Diversity-Team
Here, the team from the Vice-Rector’s Office and the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit introduces itself.
For respect, acceptance and diversity
The University of Bonn takes the current political movements in society very seriously and firmly distances itself from any form of racism and discrimination. As an educational institution, we have a responsibility to create a space characterised by respect, acceptance and diversity.
The University of Bonn stands for global cutting-edge research, open scientific exchange and the conveyance of science in teaching and to society. It owes its strength to the diversity of its students, researchers, teaching staff and all administrative employees. As an educational institution, we welcome all people regardless of their background and have a responsibility to create a space characterised by respect, acceptance and diversity. We are committed to fostering a community based on values of equality and mutual respect. We all have a responsibility to critically question and dismantle our own thought processes, internalised prejudices and existing discriminatory structures. It is therefore with great concern that we observe anti-democratic tendencies in society and condemn any form of discrimination, racism and extremism in the strongest possible terms. The protection of democratic values and respect for human rights are of the utmost importance to us! For this reason, the University of Bonn was also happy to participate in the campaign ‘#Zusammenland - Vielfalt macht uns stark’ ('#Together - Diversity makes us strong'). After signing the Bonn Declaration for more cosmopolitanism and tolerance in 2017, this is a logical step.
Rhineland Network for Equal Opportunities
Promoting equal opportunities and thus creating an open and appreciative working and study environment is the goal of our work. To reinforce this goal, the University of Bonn has become a member of the Rhineland Network for Equal Opportunities and joins in following its shared guidelines.
Their core elements are
- increasing diversity in the leadership of academia and administration,
- responsibility for reconciling family, studies and career in all lifestyles and life situations,
- ensuring equal-opportunity talent development and enabling careers,
- the reduction of discrimination, and
- strengthening gender, queer and diversity studies in teaching and research.
Diversity Audit
The University of Bonn explicitly acknowledges its obligation, as anchored in § 3 of the state Higher Education Act, to engage in sufficient measures to promote diversity among the University of Bonn community and to implement suitable structures and adequate framework conditions. The ultimate goal is to dismantle barriers and prejudices and to identify, nurture and strengthen untapped potential. One important step on this path, beyond the signing of the Charter of Diversity, is participation in the Diversity Audit by the Association of Sponsors of German Arts and Science (Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft).
By signing the “Charter of Diversity”, the University is acknowledging its responsibility to pursue equal opportunity. This is affirmed as a decisive condition for successful teaching and research, and as such is integrated as a fundamental management and cross-disciplinary task.
Contact
Annabelle Krause-Pilatus (she/her)
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn
See also
News and Events
All current projects of the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Unit, as well as diversity-related events.
The Vice Rectorate
Since 2021 Prof. Dr. Irmgard Förster is Vice Rector for Equal Opportunity and Diversity.
Support Programs
Fin out more about the support programs STEP and Pathways to Research.